Station indicating device



Jan. 30, 1940. K. J. BRUNOV STATION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 50. 1937 I C k\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ o N 3 TB N VA W J L M K BY a ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 30, 1940 2,188,621 STATION INDICATING fDEvIoE' Karl Johan *Brunov, Copenhagen,Denmark I Application September 30,1937, ,seria l No. 166,551

In Denmark September 3, .1937

6 Claims. (01. 40-41 The present invention relates to improvements in indicating devices and the like and it is particularly adapted for employment in vehicles travelling along a fixed route. One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an indicator or signaling device controlled by the motion of the vehicle for indicating on aroute :chart within'the vehicle the progress and position thereof along the line.

This general object is carried out by moving a contact arm or circuit closer either by mechanical or electro-magnetic force, to engage successively a series of contacts corresponding to stations along the route. This operation results in a row of lamps, or other indicating means,

being actuated as the vehicle proceeds. Some times, however, the circuit closer might .get vout of register with respectto the station contacts through mechanical defects or distortion or certain irregularities encountered during the course of progress. Unless such irregularity :is corrected immediately, the discrepancy will increase progressively as the circuit closer moves along its path.

It is, therefore, a particular object of this invention to provide means for correcting such irregularities at predetermined intervals, preferably at each station contact. This object might .be-accomplishedby using the circuit closer or contact arm as an armature for a group of solenoids positioned along the path of the circuit closer, preferably at or opposite each station con-' tact.

The aforementioned objects and other advantagesinherent in the invention will become more apparent as the specification proceeds and when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which-- 1 Fig. 1 isa fragmentary view in section through the lower portion of a railway car showing the position of some details of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit hook-up according to the invention,

Fig. 3 a fragmentary view of the upper portion of the railway car in cross section, showing an exterior view of the indicating sign, and

Figure 4 is a view of the face of the casing enclosing the circuit closer having a rotatable pointer arm for adjusting the circuit closer manually with respect to a station contact.

Fig. 5 is a modification of the invention. 7

Referring to Fig. 1 the body I of the railway car is provided with two wheels, one of which only is shown. This wheel has onits inner side arm is revolved at such speed that the end of .minal is connected to 'one of the contact buttons fixed toothed; wheels It which through intermediate toothed wheels 4 and 5 engage another toothed wheel-6, disposed within a casing-l and meshing with a toothed wheel 8 rigidly attached to a shaft -9 which extends through the casing and is rotatable in bearing s '(not shown) arranged withinthe vehicle. Thecasing I is preferably cylindricalin form and in Fig. 2 is shown with one end vwallremoved. Insidethe casing and fixed ito thejshaft S is a contact arm II], which revolves with=the shaft within the casing. The

"gear ratio of the toothed Wheels 3, 4, 5, 6, which hereinafter; will be designated as the reducing gearing, 'is such that the shaft with the contact the contact arm travels a distanceiwithin the casingthat corresponds to the distance the. vehicle travels between twoterminals, indicated by 'A and-Fin 2.

In-thecasing I there are a number of contact buttons. In the'c'onstruction shown these buttons are arranged in two rows, the buttons inthe outer row being indicated by I I a, andin the inner rowalternately by IIb and He. The contact arm I0 is "arranged to contact these buttons, one

.At any suitable place within the vehicle, for

a number of electric bulbs I3, I l and I5. These the bulbsjl3. yellow, I4 red and I5 green. One

terminal of each bulb or lamp is conductively connected with the plate I2, while the other terby means of the lead wires 25, for instancethe terminal of a yellow lamp to a contact button Iia, oi .a red'lamp to a contact button IIb and;

.of'agreenlamp'to a contactbutton I I c. In Fig. '2 only afew of these connections are shown for the sake of clearnes's. In front of the plate I2 there is arranged a translucent screen i6, enfthe outer'surface of "which is illustrated a diagram of the route I? with stations I8, see Fig. 3.

The lamps are so ;positioned in the plate I 2. in relation to the route I! and stations l8 that -a..l amp for instance a red lamp I4, is plac'ed'immediately behind each station I8, a green lamp behind the portion of the route indicating the -.e ntrance. to astation, and anumber of yellow lamps. I3 evenly'distributed behind the route be-v tween the stations. The contact buttons Ha, .1 lb and iIlc are .so positioned and spaced within the casing as to correspond with the route and the .spacing of the stationsthereon.

at a time during its movement between A and F.

.bulbs may be differently coloured, for instance 35" The current for the lamps may be supplied from a battery l9 by means of a wire 20 leading from one terminal to the contact arm [0, and by means of wire 26 leading from the other terminal of the battery to the metal plate |2.

When the vehicle stands at station A, the contact arm engages the button H b corresponding to this station, and which is connected to a red lamp. As the vehicle starts its. travel from A in the direction of F, the contact arm is simultaneously rotated by means of the shaft and the reducing gearing described above. During the travel the contact arm I!) passes successively the contact buttons Ha, thereby lighting the corre-* sponding yellow lamps l3, which thus show ayellow illuminated spot on the route When the contact arm approaches the station B'fit contactshicle on the route, there are provided means for automatically readjusting its position. Opposite each contact button I lb there is disposed an electromagnet 2|, the coil of which is connected to a contact strip 22 which the contact armengages when in the vicinity'of the corresponding station. The coil of the electromagnet 2| is likewise connected to a contact member 23 of a switch 24, which in turn is connected to one of the terminals of the battery). The electromagnet 2| is energizedby closing the circuit by means of the switch 24 engaging the contacts 23. The magnet 2| will then attract the arm HI and hold it in a position corresponding to the respective station. In other words, the electromagnet may be adjusted when the train is at the station. In order to increase the attraction between the-electromagnet 2| and the arm H), the latter may be provided with a soft iron ring.

For adjusting the'position of the arm ID by mechanical means there may be arranged on the cover la. of the casing a number of marks 43, see Fig. 6, each corresponding to a contact button llb. A handle or knob 44 is fixed to the end of the shaft 9 outside the cover 1a and carries a pointer 45. In case of irregularities in the position of the contact arm II] in relation to the position of the vehicle on the route, the'contact arm may be readjusted by turning-the knob 44 until the pointer points at the mark 43 indicatby abutting against the bearing 52.

the bearings.

ing the station in question.

.In a modified manner of construction of the means for periodically altering the indication of the position of the vehicle on the route there maybe arranged within the vehicle a device as illustrated in Fig. 7. This device comprises a rod 5! slidable in bearings 52 and- 53 attached in any suitable manner to the vehicle. The rod 5| is provided with a ratchet having a number 01' teeth 54 and a stop collar or knob 55 at its upper end for limiting the downward stroke of the rod An expansion spring 5! is interposed between the column 56 of the ratchet and the shoulder 53 on the rod 5|. This spring serves to hold the rod, together with the ratchet,'in its uppermost position in A collar 58 above the teeth serves to limit theupwardstroke of the rod. On the rod behind the teeth 54 is attached a contact bar 59 opposite which there is disposed a number of contact springs 60 which are attached at one end to a bar 6| which is rigidly attached to the vehicle. The springs are so disposed that they slide along the contact bar 59 when the rod moves up or down. Each contact spring 60 is connected by means of a wire 62 to one terminal of a lamp 53 arranged at any convenient place within the vehicle, the other terminal of the lampv being connected to one terminal of a battery 64. The other terminal of the battery is connected to a bolt 65 in the floor 56 of the vehicle, which bolt serves to hold a spring 6'! which will engage contacts arranged-along the rails at intervals corresponding to the indications desired on the route chart.

Facing-the teeth 54 on the rod 5| a pawl device is arranged. This pawl device consists of a plate 78 attached to a fixture within the vehicle. The plate has a dovetailed recess for a slide H on the outer surface of which is pivoted a lever 72 which extends towards the teeth 54 and carries on its free end a pawl 73, pivoted on apin 14 in the lever 12. A stop pin 15 limits the upward turning of the pawl, which is held in abutment with this stop: pin by means of a spring 76. The pawl engages the teeth 54. Thelever 12 is held in engagement with a lug Won the slide H by means of a spring 18. The slide 1| carries a rod 19 pro- 'ecting opposite to the pawl and carried through a partition 80 in the vehicle, and outside the partition the rod is provided with a handle 8|. The spring 82 presses on the slide H to put the pawl 15 in engagement with teeth 54. Below the lever 1| there is arranged an electromagnet 83 coil of which-is inserted between one terminal of the battery 64 and a bolt 84 in the floor of the'veprovided with an armature of soft iron. The.

downward movement of the lever in turn causes the pawl I3-to depress the rod 5|, and by this depression the contact bar .59 on therod is brought into contact with one of the contact springs 50, thereby closing a circuit through a contact spring 88 connecting the bar 59 with one terminal of the battery 64 and the lamp connected to the spring contact 60. When the vehicle during its continued progress again reaches a contactalohg the rail, the operation is repeated, and the contact bar 59 is moved to contact with the next contact spring 80 for lighting the corresponding lamp 63.

The contact rails may be arranged just before or just after a station,

"and the lamps brought into operation will thus appear as a constantly lighted row of lamps indicating the distance on the route the vehicle at any moment has passed.

When the route is completed, the slide II is' vehicles, etc., and the details of the invention may 'bealtered in order to meet varying rewheel of a vehicle a number of indicating signs disposedinthe various compartments in the vehicle or. in the vehicles of a train. Likewise the various modifications maybe employed separately duce a signal in a predetermined position on said route chart and a. switch. for regulating said electromagnetic'means.

2. ;.In an indicating device for-vehicles travel' ling. along a fixed route, thecombination with an electric circuit, a routechart, and uninterrupt-' edly and continuously rotatable circuit closer controlled by the rotation of the wheels of the vehicle for producing a signal on said route chart at predetermined intervals toindicate the position of the vehicle.

trolled by therotation of p the wheels of the"ve-' hicle for producing a signal on said routechart at predetermined intervals to indicate :the position of the vehicle, and'electro-magnetic means for adjusting said circuit closer to'occupy a pre-.

determined position .for producing a signal on said-chart and a switch for controlling said electro-magnetic means. i

. 40 4. In an indicating device for vehicles travela 2 quireinents without therefore deviating from the" scope oi the-inventions Thus for instance means t may be employed for operating from; a single.

1m slang; fixedlroute, the combination with I an electric circuit; a route chart; amovable circuit closer made of magnetic material controlled I by the motion of the vehicle for =producing a signal on said route chart at predetermined intervals to indicate the position of the vehicle," a: series of 'solenoids normally deenergized' positioned at predetermined intervals along the path of said circuit closer for adjusting said circuit closer with respect to said "predetermined positions, and a switch for energizing said solenoids.

5. In an'indicatingidevic'e for vehicles travelling along a fixed route, the1 combination with;

I an electric circuit a'nda route chart; of a group of contacts insaidcircuit corresponding to preterial controlled by the motion pfthe vehicle adapted toengagesaid contacts successively to produce signals on said route chart, a. series of solenoids normally 'deenergized positioned at predeterminedintervals alongthe path of said-loin cuit closer for adjusting said circuit closer with respect to said predetermined position, and a switch for energizing said solenoids.

electric circuit-'and'a route chart; of a group of contacts in saidcircuit corresponding to,prede- 'termine'd positionsalong the route to be travelled by the vehicle, a continuously and uninterrupt- 7 edly rotatable'circuit closer'of magnetic material controlled bythe rotation;of the .wheels'of the vehicle adap-ted'to engage said contacts succes-- sively to produce signals on said route chart, a

solenoid normally deenergized position diametrically opposite each of said contacts for adjusting said circuit closer with respect to said contacts and a switch. for energizing said solenoid.-

KARL JQHA UN -z 25: 4 v 6. In an indicating 'deviceifor vehiclestraveh j H I lingalon'g a fixed route, the combination with an 3. In :an indicating device for'vehicles travel 

